*By Special Correspondent, Geita and Nairobi*
THE President of the United Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency, Dr. John Pombe Magufuli (popular as ‘JPM’ for short), has urged Kenyans and Tanzanians to continue to cooperate, strengthen and maintain their close friendships so as to bring about meaningful and sustainable socio-economic development.
H.E. President Magufuli – who was on a brief sojourn in his home region – said this during a ceremony to welcome his guest, H.E Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, in Chato, Geita Region, who was on a two-day private visit to Tanzania.
"I would like to encourage our two countries to continue to cooperate, and virtually be one thing, never to let other people discriminate against us as being different. Indeed, I congratulate you for the steps you have already taken following a statement made by one person, which was intended to divide us," President Magufuli eulogised.
He said that if you leave the good neighbourliness that exists between Tanzania and Kenya, there is also the long-standing brotherhood between the two countries. We speak the same language. There is considerable social interaction – including intermarriages and a common culture.
“Your arrival (here in Geita Region) reveals to the world that we are good neighbours and true friends who will always visit each other – and we should not be fooled by other people,” President Magufuli said.
As a result of this cooperation, President Magufuli, said, Kenyan and Tanzanian business operators have been involved in various socio-economic development activities including investing in each other’s country.
According to year-2018 statistics released by the Kenya Tourism Board, about 222,216 Tanzanians visited Kenya: ten (10) per cent of the tourists who visited that country. This makes Tanzania the second-largest tourist market source after the United States!
Moreover, data by the Tanzania Investment Center (TIC) show that Kenya has invested in 504 economic projects in Tanzania worth a total of US$1.7 billion – and which created 50,956 jobs for Tanzanians.
In another development, President Magufuli mentioned the socio-economic development projects which are currently being carried out in partnership by the two countries as including the Holili and Arusha-to-Namanga road, and the road from Mombasa to Bagamoyo.
President Magufuli also said that Tanzania is in various stages of building five ships that would routes from Bukoba and Mwanza in Tanzania to Kisumu in Kenya, and Jinja in Uganda.
He also took the opportunity to called on prospective investors from Kenya to come and invest in Tanzania, where the doors for investment are wide open to one and all. Likewise, potential Tanzanian investors are encouraged to continue investing in Kenya. Doing all this is bound to further strengthen the existing partnerships in the best interests of continued socio-economic development for both countries.
Being the first high-profile State leader to visit Chato, the President of the Republic of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyata, said his presence in the Geita Region is ample testimony that the countries are more than brothers – and, as such, they will continue to foster and otherwise strengthen cooperation between them wellintothe future.
“No one can ever separate us,” Mr. Kenyatta pledged. “As East Africans, we have to make sure that we remove all barriers to trade and other businesses – and, perhaps, even in intermarriages” H.E the Kenyan President solemnly said!
Finally, Mr. Kenyatta thanked the Government of Tanzania for building the Chato Airport, saying it will strengthen and promote business and other socio-economic development activities in the region.
"I am surprised by politicians and other people who disparage your noble efforts to build the airport, which is an important facility,” the Kenyan Head of State and Government said.
During what was a private visit to Tanzania, President Kenyatta expressed resentment regarding somewhat xenophobic utterances by a Kenyan politician calling for the ejection of foreigners out of Kenya – stressing that
it is impossible to prevent Tanzanians and Kenyans from doing business in each other’s country, or marrying each other!
*Ends*
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